Back to Istanbul on the way to India

Somehow found out about a new bus line going straight from Athens to Istanbul in just 16 hours for 60 euros one way and decided to use it :)

Rain and cold in Athens, Im so delighted entering the bus to see it has very comfortable seats, super clean, Lcd screen for every seat (on the back of the front seat) in which they have some movies and animation (in Turkish) but you can plug your usb and play your music and divx movies! There is a service guy who comes every two hours around and gives free sweets, water, tea and coffee!

Passport check on the border is very straight forward and fast, a few people, a big contrast to the train where they have to check so many people and wait for an hour or so.

So back to Istanbul, a really beautiful city. Didn't take so many photos this time, as I took too many the last time a few months ago when it was warm, but haven't posted or published anything yet... This time it’s a bit too cold to go juggling on the streets, I meet my friend and his family, they are so nice to me and his mother is cooking some amazing delicious stuff, especially without meat. I feel like part of their family and I am so lucky to be with them, such wonderful people. They say Im too skinny and should eat a lot before going to India :D And as a tea lover I enjoyed endless Turkish tea!

Was pretty cold as well so no juggling under the Galata tower this time, walking around a bit but sometimes it was so freezing that I had to enter shopping centers to get some warmth. At least this one had a nice fountain with music and kids looking amazed :)

The way to Sabiha airport is a long one, because its way out of town. The close by Ataturk airport is expensive to fly out-in so cheap airlines fly to Sabiha. Metrobus change to the Turkish side and almost on the end of the line change to another bus going to the airport. Very strange this bus goes up to mountains and all kinds of places and seemed that nobody was going to the airport. One guy with lots of facial and long hair was looking at me, at some point started talking, he though I was from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He looked like a communist something with his small hat and stuff. Then I told him Im from Yunnanistan and going to India. He was delighted, greeted Salam Alekum and smiling. On the end finally reached the airport, not so many people flying out from there, mostly people getting in. Found my flight, checked in and it was time to wait, good thing they have free WiFi.

Next destination… India :)